What counts as profit
Trade profit is simple at heart: what you sold for, minus what you paid, minus the costs of getting in and out. Commissions and fees nibble at the edges, and dividends can quietly become a large share of total return over years of holding. This calculator keeps all three visible so a trade that “made money” does not hide a fee drag, and a flat trade does not hide income the dividends delivered.
Reading ROI on the position
ROI here divides net profit by your cost basis, the money tied up in the position. A $2,000 profit sounds nice, but 40% on a $5,000 position in six months is very different from 40% over ten years — pair this result with the CAGR calculator when you want returns per year. Taxes come off the top too, and short-term gains usually take the bigger bite.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to enter commissions?
No — many brokers trade commission-free, so the defaults are zero. If you pay a flat fee per trade or per share, enter the dollar amount for each side and it comes straight off profit.
How do dividends fit in?
Enter the total dividends paid per share while you held the stock. They are added on top of trading profit to show total return, which is how long-term investors often earn most of their money.
What if I only sold part of my position?
Enter the shares you actually sold and the prices for that lot. The remaining shares are an open position with no realized profit until you sell them.